Intaglio printing mechanism



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w. M. POLLOCK INTAGLIO PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 11, 1937 VEN R II w W. M. POLLOCK INTAGLIO PRINTING MECHANISM May 21, 1940.

Filed Sept. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 air , ATTORNEYS Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Goss Printing Press Company,

corporation of Illinois Chicago, 111., a

Application September 11, 1987, Serial No. 188,336

80laims.

, The invention relates to new and. useful improvements in inking mechanisms for rotary intaglio printing presses, and more particularly to improvements in process and mechanisms for maintaining a flowing stream of ink in contact with a very large part of the rotating design and for controlling and directing the return flow of the ink stream, and guarding against evaporation from the ink stream.

1 Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or maybe learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities l5 and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. a Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section and partly diagrammatiaof a mechanism embo ying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, taken on 39 line'2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modiiied form.

. Objects of the invention are to provide more emcient inking for rotary intaglio presses and more especially to improve inking emciency in rotary intaglio presses running at high speed and using highly volatile inks; to maintain continuously an adequate supply of ink over a very large extent of the design on the rapidly rotating cyl- 0 inder, and over a relatively large part of the periphery of the cylinder in order to prolong the inking action on all parts of the design, and at the same time to project a continuous ink stream against the design, and to maintain the ink stream in flow and also in movement relatively to the design; to maintain a circulating body of ink in continuous flowing contact over a large part of the design and to maintain this circulat-' ing stream out of contact with the air, thereby to reduce'the evaporation of highly volatile inks to a minimum; and to provide simple and reliable mechanism to effect the objects pointed out. With these and other objects in view, a press is provided having an intaglio design cylinder, 56 and positioned beneath the cylinder a curved ink fountainiof radius such as to permit a stream of ink'of desired and usually of substantial thickness to pass between the rotating design and the .fountain bottom. Along and adjacent the rear' edge of the fountain, a wide stream of ink is projected against and usually throughout the width of the design and into the passageway between the rotating cylinder and fountain bottom. Near the forward edge of the fountain, and back of the doctor blade, this ink stream, flowing for- 10 wardly in its closed channel and-in contact with the design, is deflected away from the rotating cylinder and its direction reversed. The stream is directed through another closed channel, flows .backwardly under its own inertia, and is redeliv- 15 ered into the stream of ink being delivered against the design. Thus a large moving volume of ink is continuously projected onto the rotating design, there is a large and abundantflowage of ink over a very large part of the design, and a 90 large body of the ink is continuously maintained in circulation out of contact with the air, and evaporation is thereby greatly reduced and largely prevented. Replenishment of the ink from a further fountain is provided, and at the same 25 time a total larger volume of ink than the immediate stream is kept .n circulation. This is effected by means of a pump which maintains a circulation of ink between the two fountains, projects the ink stream against the design, and 30 also maintains the flow or head on the ink stream in the circulating system above described. Novel features of the ink circulating system and pump will likewise be later pointed out and claimed herein. 35

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out later herein, and it will be understood that the foregoing general descrip tion,, and the following detailed description as well,are illustrative and exemplary but are not 0 restrictive of the .invention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, a rotogravure or other intagliated design cylinder i is journaled 5 in the press frame (not shown) and cooperating therewith is an impression roll 2, which may be of usual or other suitable form, and. rotating in contact with the impression roll is a backing cylinder 3. A suitable doctor blade mechanism 5 is employed, which maybe of any standard or other suitable form, and such a mechanism is shown fragmentarily at 4, with the doctor blade 5 cooperating withthe design cylinder in the usual manner.

The inking mechanism, in so far as concerns certain general features thereof, may be of any desired form, and as shown a general fountain structure or casing surrounds the design cylinder l, and comprises side walls In and II behind and in front of the design cylinder I, and end walls I2 connected to the side walls and enclosing the ends of the design cylinder. Located beneath this fountain casing, as shown, is a replenishing fountain l6. In accordance withthe present invention a continuous stream of ink is projected against the design on the rotating cylinder I,

throughout the length thereof, and as far away circumferentially from the impression line of the cylinders I and 2 as practicable, and a large, flowing stream of ink is maintained in contact with the design in quantity throughout a very large extent of the circumference of the rotating cylinder. Furthermore, in accordance with one feature of the invention, a continuous and endless stream of ink is maintained, having the functions just described, and this circulating stream of ink is maintained out of contact with the atmosphere substantially throughout its entire path, and, consequently, the evaporation of highly volatile inks is reduced to and maintained at a minimum.

Means are provided for projecting the stream of ink against the rotating design throughout the length of the cylinder, for maintaining the flowing stream of ink in contact with the rotating design, and for directing the stream of ink away from the design before reaching the doctor blade and directing it back to the place of projection against the design; and cooperating therewith are means for replenishing the ink stream from a reservoir to such extent as required or as found most efllcient. In the embodied form, a suspended fountain is provided having a curved bottom ll, beneath and spaced away from the bottom of the design cylinder I, and having end walls IS, the lower part of the design cylinder rotating within the fountain. This fountain is removably supported within tthe surrounding casing, and as shown is sustained by pivotal supports IQ for the side walls II at the front end thereof, the supports I! being mounted in the end walls I! of the fountain casing. At the rearends of the side walls l8, respectively, hooks 20 are pivotally mounted at 2 I, and hook over pins 22 mounted in the casing side walls I2. The embodied form of return path for the ink stream, whereby it is returned back to the place of projection against the design, comprises a curved bottom plate 21, located beneath and spaced away from the plate IT. The plates l1 and 21 are maintained in spaced position to provide the double passageway for the ink stream by means of angle bars 28 and 29 pivoted to the underside of the plate I! and projecting downwardly therefrom, the bottom of the angle bars fltting within bars 30 and 3| fixed to the inner side of the plate 21.

The embodied form of the means for projecting the ink stream against the design and forwardly along the rotating design through the passageway between the cylinder I and the bottom plate i1, and of the means for replenishing and renewing the ink stream, comprises a pump 35, located'within the reserve ink fountain IS, the pump being normally immersed in the ink in the fountain IS. A flexible hose 36 connects from the pump to a header 31, extending across the design cylinder at the rear edge of the fountain, and located also at the rear end of the forward and return passageways for the ink stream. Connected to the header are the means'for directing the flowing ink against the design cylinder and into the forward passageway formed between the design cylinder and the curved member l1, said means comprising a plate 38 seated on the header, and extending vertically upward, and then being curved inwardly at 39 to direct the return of the ink stream. An opening is thus provided between the curved top edge of plate 38 and the rear edge of plate I1, which usually extends throughout the length of the design cylinder. Through this opening the ink stream of substantial thickness and volume is directed against the design, throughout the width thereof, and is also directed forwardly into the channel beneath the design cylinder. A screen plate 40 closes the top of the opening at the back of the plate 38.

At the forward end of the forward flow passage for the ink stream are the means for defleeting thestream away from the design and into the return passageway, which conducts it back to the place of projection against the design. Said means, as embodied, comprises a horizontally disposed curved deflector plate 41, ex-

tending along the surface of the design cylinder somewhat to the rear of the doctor blade. The deflector plate 41 is mounted on an angle bar 48, extending across between and supported by the end walls is of the fountain, and the deflector plate 41 has bolt and slot connections 45 with the bar 48 whereby the distance between the edge of the plate 41 and the design may be varied, and the amount of ink deflected and the amount allowed to remain on the design and removed by the doctor blade, may be nicely regulated, as indicated diagrammatically by the arrows. A curved deflector plate 50 is mounted on the underside of the angle bar 48 to further direct and reverse the ink stream into the return passageway. In Fig. 3 of the drawings, a somewhat different form of the passageway structure is shown, wherein the adjustment between the deflector plate and the design surface is omitted, and a spillage passage for the ink returned from the doctor blade is provided between the rear edge of the deflector plate and the vertical wall H of the fountain casing, whereby the ink returned from the doctor blade will flow directly downward into the reserve fountain I 6. other convenient form of overflow or spillage means may be provided whereby a part of the ink is returned from the circulating stream to the reserve fountain and the stream is replenished from the reserve. In accordance with one feature of the invention, the pump, usually a centrifugal 'pump, is located in the ink in'the reserve fountain, and the motor 56 therefor is located outside the fountain. As shown, the base plate 51 the rotating design through a relatively large F part of its path, the ink stream at the same time having relative motion with respect to the design, all of which tends to maintain thorough inking and clear printing. The deflecting means at the forward end of the path of the ink stream Any not only deflects it into the return channel but and the amount permitted to remain .on the design to the doctor blade may be nicely regulated as desired for the particular printing. The mechanism also utilizes the inertia of the for- 4 wardiy flowing ink stream to return it under considerable head to the projection locus, where it is again turned into the stream of. ink impinging on the design. The maintenance of this large flow of ink, in active coaction. with the design, and almost completely out of contact with the atmosphere practically eliminates evapo'ration of the ink and greatly reduces the emanation of fumes. The pump may be regulated to establish not only replenishment of the ink stream, but also to maintain a circulation between the active ink and the replenishment reservoir in the desired proportion or degree.

' The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. An intaglio printing press including in combination a design cylinder, a fountain surrounding the bottom of the designcylinder, means at the rear of the fountain for projecting ink in a stream along the cylinder and against the design, means for confining and guiding the ink stream about the lower part of the cylinder in contact with the design, a baiile for deflecting and reversing the stream of ink flowing forwardly about the cylinder and within the fountain, and means for unobstructedly returning the flowing stream of ink to said projecting means at the rear'of the fountain by the inertia of the ink moved by the rotating cylinder.

2. An intaglio printing press-including in com-- bination a design cylinder, a fountain having a curved bottom surrounding"the bottom of the cylinder, means for applying ink between the cylinder and said curved bottom. a passageway of relatively large cross section beneath the fountain with one end adjacent to said ink applying means, and means for directing ink from said' stream into said passageway to return the ink stream to said place of application under the inertia developed inthe ink 'by the fast rotating cylinder.

3. An intaglio printingpress including in combination a design cylinder, a doctor blade, a fountain having a curved bottom surrounding the bottom of the cylinder, means at the rear of the fountain for applying ink between the cylinder and fountainbottom, a passageway beneath the fountain with one end adjacent to said ink applying means,'and means to the rear of the doctor blade for reversing the ink stream and directing it into said passageway'to return the ink stream to the other side of the, fountain, said curved botculated by the cylinder.

tating cylinder may act to circulate the ink- 4. An intaglio printing press including in combination a design cylinder, inking means including devices for directing a stream of ink in an endless path the ends of which are at approximately the same level, along a part of which path the stream of flowing ink is in contact with and impelled by the surface of the rotating cylinder. and along a part of which path the stream of ink is flowing out of contact with said cylinder, and means for applying the ink stream against and throughout the width of the design on the cylinder and impelling it along its path of flow in the direction of rotation of thecylinder.

5. An intaglio printing press including in com bination a design cylinder, inking means includendless path having its ends at approximately the same level and out of contact with the atmosphere throughout most of its length, along a part of which path the stream'of flowingink is in contact with the design on the rotating cylinder so as to be impelled thereby. andalong a part of which path the stream of ink-is flowing out of contact with said cylinder, and means for supplying additional ink into the stream of ink cir- I 6. An intaglio printing press including in combination a design cylinder. a fountain havinfl a curved bottom surrounding the bottom of the cylinder, the space between said cylinder bottom and said fountain bottom constituting part of an enclosed passageway for a stream of ink which flows in contact with the design, a return conduit of large cross section for returning the ink stream tothe beginning of said passageway by inertia of the ink, means for deflecting the returned ink towardsthe cylinder at the beginning of said passageway and means for supplying additional ink to said stream.

"1. An'intaglio printing press including in combination a design cylinder, a fountain having a curved bottom surrounding the bottom of the cylinder, the space between said cylinder bottom and said fountain bottom constituting an en-' closed passageway for a stream of ink which is moved by contact with the design, a passageway for returning the ink stream by inertia to the entrance to said passageway, an ink reservoir receiving ink from said passageways, and a means for supplying ink from said reservoir into said stream.

8. An intaglio printing pressincludingincombination a design cylinder, means at the rear of the impression line for projecting a stream of ink towards the cylinder and in the direction of 3 tom and passageway'having their ends at about the same level and filled with ink so that the roing devices for directing a stream'of ink'in an rotation of the cylinder, means for confining said stream of forwardly flowing ink as a solid stream abput the cylinder and in contact with the design and means of relatively large cross section for deflecting said stream and uhobstructedly returningit to the point of projection to be again projected towards the design.

wnmnn u. romock. 

